What is the grace period for CLE reporting in Georgia?

You report CLE credits in Georgia by submitting an annual affidavit (or report) to the Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency via the Georgia Bar’s CLE portal by January 31.
This certification reflects CLE hours earned during the prior calendar year, ending December 31.

Overview of Georgia CLE Reporting

Georgia attorneys must complete 12 CLE hours each year, including at least 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in professionalism. Trial attorneys must also complete 3 hours in trial practice.
CLE programs may be live, webcast, or prerecorded distance learning; there is no longer a limit on how many distance learning hours may apply.
Attorneys may carry forward a limited number of excess credits: up to 12 general credits, 2 ethics, 2 professionalism, and 3 trial hours.

Steps to Report CLE in Georgia

• Complete your required 12 hours (including the mandatory ethics and professionalism hours, and trial hours if applicable) by December 31.
• Log in to the Georgia Bar’s CLE / CCLC (Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency) portal.
• Enter your completed programs and confirm credit details.
• Submit the annual affidavit or compliance report by January 31.
• If your report is selected for audit, produce certificates, agendas, or attendance records.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, verify those credits appear in Georgia’s CLE record; where Georgia permits provider reporting, we support that transmission, but you remain responsible for your affidavit submission.

Key Takeaway: In Georgia, you must earn 12 CLE hours by December 31, then file your compliance report by January 31 via the CLE portal. Sprout Education aids in reporting where allowed, but you still must verify your record and submit the affidavit in a timely manner.

No — Georgia does not require attorneys to complete any fixed number of in-person classroom hours.

Under Georgia’s CLE rules, attorneys may satisfy all 12 required credits via approved distance learning programs (webcasts, online, on-demand) or live courses.

Details

• Georgia attorneys must complete 12 credit hours per calendar year, including 1 hour of ethics and 1 hour of professionalism.
• As of January 1, 2022, Georgia permits attorneys to fulfill the full 12 hours via online or distance learning CLE programs.
• Georgia still authorizes live in-person CLE programs, but there is no requirement that any portion of the 12 hours be in-person.
• Providers offering live or distance learning must comply with accreditation and reporting rules under Georgia’s CLE regulations.

Key Takeaway

Georgia mandates 12 CLE credits annually but does not impose a minimum in-person classroom requirement — attorneys may fulfill all credits through approved online or live formats.

You may begin reporting CLE credits in Georgia once the prior calendar year closes on December 31, since the reporting system opens immediately for review and submission.
All attorneys must then finalize and file their Annual CLE Report by January 31.

Key Details

• Georgia attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours per year, including 1 hour of ethics and 1 hour of professionalism.
• After December 31, you can log into the CLE system to review credits reported by providers.
• The Annual CLE Report must be submitted by January 31 of the following year.
• If any courses are missing, you may file supporting documentation or request corrections before the deadline.
• Sprout Education reports attendance to the Georgia CLE Board within 30 days of course completion, so your credits typically appear soon after year-end.

Key Takeaway: In Georgia, you can start reporting credits as soon as the calendar year ends on December 31, with final submission due by January 31.

Attorneys in Georgia certify CLE compliance via an annual affidavit/report submitted to the Georgia Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency (CCLC). CLE providers must report attendance to the CCLC, and the Bar mails attorneys an Annual Report which they confirm by January 31.

Key Details:

• CCLC sends each attorney an Annual Report of CLE attendance in early January.
• Attorneys review the report and submit corrections or affirm compliance by January 31.
• Providers and CLE sponsors submit attendance and reporting data—Sprout Education reports course completions to CCLC within 30 days of each course.
• Excess credits allowable for carryover: up to 12 general, 2 ethics, 2 professionalism, 3 trial credits.
• If you fail to report by the deadline or correct errors, you may incur late fees or noncompliance actions.

Key Takeaway: In Georgia, CLE reporting is handled via an annual CCLC affidavit/input through the Annual Report, with attorneys required to confirm or correct by January 31.

Georgia attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours each calendar year, including 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in professionalism.
Attorneys who regularly engage in trial work also must take 3 hours in trial practice in that year.

Details

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours annually.
• Ethics: 1 credit hour must be in ethics/professional responsibility.
• Professionalism: 1 credit hour must be in professionalism.
• Trial attorneys: 3 of the 12 hours must be in trial practice when acting as lead or sole counsel in contested matters.
• Carryover: Excess credits (up to 12) may carry forward, including limited carryover for ethics, professionalism, and trial hours.
• Exemptions: Exemptions are available for inactive members, members over age 70, judges, or those meeting hardship criteria.
• Reporting: Credits must be earned by December 31 and reported by January 31 (with grace periods allowed).

Key Takeaway: Georgia requires 12 CLE hours annually, including 1 ethics, 1 professionalism, and for trial attorneys 3 trial hours, with limited carryover and defined reporting deadlines.

Missing Georgia’s CLE deadline can lead to late fees and possible suspension if the deficiency is not cured. Georgia attorneys must complete 12 credits (including ethics and professionalism) by December 31 and report by January 31, with a grace period to March 31.

Deadlines & Grace Periods

• December 31: Deadline to complete the required 12 CLE credits.
• January 31: Deadline to file the CLE report or certify compliance.
• March 31 (Grace Period Expiry): If credits weren’t completed or reported by March 31, a $100 late fee is assessed and the deadline extends to June 30.
• After June 30, additional late fees (up to $150 more) may be assessed, bringing total penalties to around $250.

Noncompliance & Suspension Risk

• The Supreme Court of Georgia may enter an order suspending attorneys who remain noncompliant after these deadlines.
• To be reinstated, attorneys must cure the deficiency, pay late and reinstatement fees, and provide proof of full compliance.

Key Takeaway: In Georgia, missing your CLE deadline triggers escalating late fees ($100 after March 31, then more after June) and carries a real suspension risk unless you promptly cure noncompliance and file reports.